Fruit juice dispenser



IN V EN TOR.

ATTOENEV April 27, 1948. T. M. KERR FRUIT JUICE DISPENSER Filed NOV. 6, 1944 flmM 722, am, By m/J51 Patented Apr. 27, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRUIT JUICE DISPENSER Thomas Mr Kerr, Eos melts, Calif. Application Noveniter 6, 1944, Serial no. 562,084

8 Grains. (Cl. 225

This invention relates to fruit juice dispensers, and particularly to a dispenser having spaced transparent Walls and a built-in display tountain for attracting the customers attention, said fountain being operated continuously, desired, by a concealed pump and control valve unit.

The display fountain of my dispenser has the advantage of constantly circulatingv the fruit juice, thereby preventing any solid or immiscible components of the'iuice from settling or strati fying to a serious degree. Undue settling oi any solid components might clog the dispensing conduit or faucet, while stratification prevents a uni-*- form mixture from being dispensed and presents an unsightly appearance to potential customers, For refilling and juice circulation purposes,- my dispenser is provided with a detachable valve housing unit which contains the control valve; and supports the pump unit, Said valvehas at leasttwo operative positions, one of which shuts oi the flow of fruit juice from the base of the dispenser container to the pump while said eontainer is being filled; and the other of which shuts cit the filling inlet while the juice is being pumped or recirculated through the fountaim I may also provide an intermediate or" third posi tion of the valve, which shuts off the flow or. juice both from the fountain inlet and filling. inlet. The concealed pump unit may be readily removed from said detachable housing, for re placement or repairs, without disturbing the dispensing function of said container, While said valve is in either the first or third positions;

The insulating efiect of the spa-ce between the transparent walls of the dispenser container; is sufiicient to prevent the juice or fountain display being concealed from customers, by the formew tion of condensation on: the outside oi the outer wall from the cooling effect of the chilled fruit juice which is continuously sprayed upon the inside of. the inner Wall.-- 7

My dispenser container isalso provided: with an air vent which both limits the depth to width said container can be filled and allows the displaced air in the container to escape as it is being filled, andto return as it is emptied The dispenser containermay be mounted.- above the counter, with the valve housing and pump unit located beneath the counter, or all: three parts may be supported as a unit above the counter and an apron member provided. toconceal the valve and pump units.-

The principal object of my invention is: to pro vide an improved fruit juicedispenserpi-n which:

material and "houses a built-in display fountain.

Another object oi m invention is to provide a concealed pinnp and control vaive unit, for open eating a buiitundisplay fountain the dis enser container; by continuously circulating the resi dual fruit Juice against theu per portion of the" inside transparent Wall. r

Another obi-cot at my invention is to provide a fruit juicedispenser spaced transparent waits; for preventing the fountain and contents being concealed trons tnecustomers by the formation or condense-d moisture or frost on the outside 6! the outer Wail s A futther object of my invention is to provide a fruit juice dispenser which is economical in design one operation-a ia which has a built-in display fountain operated by a removable valve pump unit; said pump also being se arately removable, when said valve isclcse'd without disturbine: the: dispensing itinetione it runner object oi my invention is to provide a-fruit Juice dispenses with a simplified formof valvehavimz at ieasttwo operative pcsitionswhich enable the concealed. pump unit either to operate the builwnz. tountain or to rerun the dispenser container 0 An additional object or my inyen-tron is to rovide a fruit iuice dispenser with an air vent botnror limiting thedepth to which the dispenser may be filled, and iot permittinig the escape and returitof thcdispiaacedone a My" mention arse has ior cifsiec'ts to rovide such means are: positive-n1 operation, conveoient in use;eesily mstolltd in'a working pds'ition and disconnected therefrom, economh' eat of manuractuiarerativelysimple; and of gen em: supenomtyand siviceabilit yl rm invention also comprises ncveidetails of construction and novel combinations and ar= rangements or parts, whichwt more? fully a'p- Deal? in the course of the following description. However, the drawings merely show and the fol lowing: description merely describes embodiment ct the present invention-which given by way a t inundation or example In the drawings; likereference characters d es"- ignate similar parts in the several views.

I is a partihiiy' diagrammatic verticai cross section taten throughthe center of my dispenser';-- and snows the control valve in riding position.

Figs 2 is a fragmentary view of the control yolv'ehousing andpump units ofi i'g'. i, but shows the voice in circulating position; and

the dispenser container is: madeor transpareii tu Fiat-lean eniargfi detail-sectionalViewtaken 3 on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, but shows the valve in an intermediate position.

The fruit juice dispenser of my invention consists in general of a supporting stand l6, container 20, fountain 46, valve housing unit 66, and pump unit 80. The stand I comprises an apron member I of any desired shape, which serves to conceal the valve housing 66, and pump unit 86 from the view of customers, and need not be used where saidhousing and pump units are supported beneath a counter |2, instead of on the counter as illustrated. The apron may support the weight of all the parts as shown, or may be carried on supporting legs (not shown) The stand III has a door opening IS in the back outer end of cylindrical housing 63 for detachably securing the valve 62 in place, and a slip handle 12 is provided for rotating the valve. The filling conduit 65 is normally closed by a cap member 15 (see Fig. 3), which is replaced, by the union l0 and hose I3, whenever it is desired to replenish the fruit juice in the dispenser from a supply receptacle 14.

The centrifugal pump 82, or any other suitable type, is actuated by an electric motor 83, or any other suitable means, and is detachably secured as a unit to the bottom of valve housing '1 60, with the pump vanes arranged to pump the juice in chamber 64 to the container 26 through to provide access to control valve-62,1illing conduit 65, and to said housing and pump units -66 1 portion of wall 24, which maybe regarded as the; bottom wall of container 26, or as the 'top wall of stand It]. said bottom edges of, jars 2|,, and

23 may be hermetically sealed in a-manner knownto the art, or may, as shown in Fig. 1, be supported on peripheral bands 25, 28 conforming to;

the cross sectional shape, of said jars. Thelower band 25 is joined in a liquid tight manner with bottom wall 24, and has ashoulder 26 spaced from clamping bandi 28,,forlreceiving agasket tubing 521 which supports the bottomedgefof outer jar 23. The upper band 28.=has a shoulder 29 for clamping the outwardly turned bottom edge of inner jar 2| in a liquid tight manner againstv band 25. A trim strip 36-may be secured to bot.- tom wall 24 to prevent the contentsiof. jar '2| from tending to spread the bands 25 and'28, and thus causing leakage of said contents; Refrigerating coils, 32 are supported inside-jar 2|, for chilling the fruit. juice andare ordinarly concealed by the juice or fountain spray.4||. Th refrigerating unit comprises a series of coils. 32, which are vertically disposed and .ann'ularly spaced to afford free, circulationofthe juice thereabout and to prevent accumulation ofthesolid or pulpous matter; in the juice thereon. The

juice is dispensed from the container) vby;con-- duit 34 and faucet 35. Anair vent;36,.suppor'ted inside jar 2|, also limits the depth to which the container maybe filled.

The valve housing 66 is detachably connected in a liquid tight manner to the bottom side "ofbottom wall 24, andis provided with a passageway 6| which aligns with a circulating outlet 31: in wall 24. A hollow cylindrical valve 62 is rotatably mounted in a cylindrical housing 63, the interior of which communicates with a chamber 64 leading to the pump 82 of unit 86. 'I'he.tubular wall of said valve 62 has twolongitudinally aligned openings 66 and 61, for controlling the fountain and filling operation, the opening 66 aligningwith the filling conduit 65, as shown in Fig. 1, and the opening 61 aligning withpassageway 6|, as shown in Fig. 2. Apassageway 68 leads from pumpfiz to the fountain conduit 4| secured to the wall 24 inside jar 2|. ,A nut l l is provided on the passageway 66 and fountain conduit 4|.

The shaftof motor 83 is provided with a liquid tight packing gland 86, while the detachable connection 88 between the pump housing 81 and the valve housing 62 is made liquid tight in any suitable manner.

Operation 7 Referring to Fig. 1, the container 2|- has just been filled with fruit juice from supply receptacle 14 by the suction of pump 82 drawing the juice through hose i3, supply conduit 65, valve opening 66, and valve 62, into chamber 64, from which it was forced by pump 82 through passage- Way 68 and fountain conduit 4| into the container. :By rotating control valve 62 to the position shown in Fig; 2, a part of the juice 'will be Withdrawn continuously from'the container 2| through the circulatingbottom outlet 3'L'passageway 6|, valve opening 61, and valve 62 into chamber 64, from which it is continuously forced by pump 82 through passageway 68 and fountain conduit 4| against the inside surface of the top portion of container 2|, thereby creatinga display ifountain forattracting the attention of potential customers- I V For replenishing the juice in container 2|, or for replacing the pump unit 86, the valve 62 is rotated momentarily to the neutral position of Fig. 3, toallow the juice inside the valve 62 and in chamber 64 to be pumped into the container 2 I, so that it will not'drain into the filling conduit 65 upon shutting off the pump motor 83 andturning the valve 62 to the position shown in Fig. 1. In' either case, the juice can continue to be dispensed from container 2 I, through conduit 34 and faucet 35, even when the pump unit is removed,

or While the container 2| is being filled. It will be understood that the fountain is intended to operate continuously during the business period. While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modifications without departing from the spirit andfscope of my invention. ;I, therefore, do not wish to restrict myself to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fruit juice dispenser comprising; a transparent container for the juice; a faucetfor dispensing juice from the bottom of said container, a fountain conduit having its outlet in the upper portion ofsaid container; a. circulating outlet in the bottom portion of said container; a housing secured to the bottom of said container having a passage communicating with said conduit and-a passage communicating with said outlet, said housing having a valve chamber and a filling en a es inlet communicating therewitha concealed pump for continuously withdawing" part of the fruit juice: through said circulating. bottom outlet and for forcing it through said conduit intoth'etop portion of said. container to forma display fountain; and a tubular valve in said chamber for controlling the flow of juice from said circulatlbdttom. outlet to said pump one time them said: filling. inlet to said. pum at antitheir time, saidp'ump being removaltie from saifcfi lionsing without interfering with the dispensing function of said container, when said valve is in neutral position.

2. A fruit juice dispenser comprising; a transparent container for the juice; a faucet for dispensing juice from the bottom of said container; a fountain conduit having its outlet in the upper portion of said container; a circulating outlet in the bottom portion of said container; a concealed valve housing connected to the bottom of said container; a valve in said housing; a concealed pump unit detachably secured to said valve housing; and said housing having a passageway leading from said circulating bottom outlet through said valve to said pump and thence to said fountain conduit, when said valve is open, whereby said pump unit may be removed from said housing when said valve is closed, without interfering with the dispensing function of said container.

3. In a fruit juice dispenser, the combination of a transparent container for the juice having a bottom provided with a circulation inlet and a circulation outlet; a fountain conduit communi eating with said circulation inlet and having its outlet in the upper portion of said container; a housing attached to the bottom of said container having a passageway communicating with said inlet and a circulation passageway communicating with said outlet; a pump attached to said housing to withdraw part of the juice through said circulation passageway and force it through said conduit to form a display fountain; a valve chamber in said housing and between said circulation passageway and said pump, said chamber having a juice supply inlet; a tubular valve in said chamber having ports, said valve being operable at different times to register one of the ports with said circulation passageway to effect circulation of the juice through said housing and conduit, to seal said circulation port and register th other port with said inlet supply, and to neutral position to seal both said circulation passageway and said supply inlet, and means to dispense juice from said container independently of said pump and the position of said valve.

4. A fruit juice dispenser comprising: a transparent container having a circulating outlet in the bottom thereof; a faucet for dispensing juice from the bottom of said container; a fountain conduit having its outlet in the upper part of said container; a housing connected to the bottom of said container, said housing provided with a passageway communicating with the outlet in said container and with a passageway communicating with said conduit; a pump detachably secured to said housing, and a valve in said housing operable at one time to control the circulation of the juice through said passageways, and at another time to stop the circulation therethrough, said pump being removable from said housing, when said valve is closed, without interfering with the dispensing function of said container.

5. In a fruit dispenser, the combination of: a container for the juice having a circulation inlet and a eircinatien outl't ira reactant conduit manic-arise with circuistim mist arid-Hay: melts outletiiithepart at cntaiiifi a: musing attachedt'e the battens of said cuesauimietenciaeircuiatie passagewaycem eating with said punt-2t; a pump anaemic-re said housing to withdraw the juice mitten-*- safe culation passageway and force it through said conduit-to am: a; display fountain; a valve in said housing and between said circulation passageway and said pump, said housing having a juice supply inlet; and said valve being operable at different times to control circulation of the juice through said housing and conduit, to seal the circulation passageway and open the juice supply inlet, and to neutral position to seal both said circulation passageway and said supply inlet, an air vent for limiting the depth to which the container may be filled and removing the air' :displaced by the filling operation, and means to dispense juice from said container independently of said pump and the position of said valve.

6. A fruit juice'dispenser comprising: a trans-- parent container for the juice; a cooling coil in. said container of vertical pipes annularly dis-- posed; a faucet for dispensing juice from the bot-- tom of said container; a fountain conduit having: its outlet in the upper part of said container; acirculating outlet in the bottom portion of said container, a housing detachably secured to the bottom of said container, said housing having: passageways respectively communicating with: said fountain conduit and circulating outlet, and; a valve chamber, a filling inlet communicating; therewith, a pump carried by said housing; a valve in said chamber for controlling circulation, of juice through said fountain conduit and circulation outlet or controlling the flow of juice: from said filling inlet to said pump, said valve having a neutral position whereby the juice is, unaffected by the operation of the pump and dis-- p-ensing of juice from the container is not inter-- fered with.

7. In a fruit juice dispenser, the combination of: a container, a cooling unit in said containercomprising vertical pipes annularly spaced, said container having a circulating outlet in the bot-- tom thereof, a fountain conduit having its outlet in the upper part of said container, an air vent; in said container, a housing connected to the: bottom of said container, including a detachable pump and a valve chamber, and provided with passageways, registering with the conduit and cir-- culating outlet of said container, and with a juice supply inlet, a ported valve in said chamber operable in one position to establish communication between said juice supply inlet and passageway leading to said conduit to supply juice to the container, in another position to close said supply inlet and open communication between said outlet and conduit to effect circulation of the juice and to neutral position to seal both the circulation passageways and supply inlet without interfering with the continuous operation of the pump, and a faucet to dispense juice from said container at all times.

8. A fruit juice dispenser comprising: a transparent container for the juice, a cooling unit in said container comprising a series of annularly spaced vertical pipes, a fountain conduit having its outlet in the upper portion of said container, a circulating outlet in the bottom portion of said container, concealed pump means for con- I 8 tinuously withdrawing part of the fruit juice through said circulating bottom outlet and for REFERENCES CITED fo c n it through said conduit into the top DO The following references are of record in the tion of said container to form a display fountain, file of thi patent: a. filling inlet, and tubular valve means having 5 at least two ports for selectively opening the flow UNITED STATES PATENTS of juice to said pump means from either said Number I Name Date circulating bottom outlet or said filling inlet. 1,804,519 Smith May 12, 1931 1,836,893 Austin Dec. 15, 1931 THOMAS M. KERR. 10 1,859,566 Konikow May 24, 1932 

